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The Crisafulli LNP government is set to be tested after it announced November 29 as the date for the by-election in the north Queensland seat of Hinchinbrook. Writs for the election were issued this morning. While the poll won't significantly affect the LNP's sizeable majority, and is far from the premier's own seat of Broadwater on the Gold Coast, Premier David Crisafulli has been campaigning hard in the electorate. The by-election, based around Ingham where the premier was raised, is seen as detailing the state of play for Queensland politics just a year after he was swept to power. By-election 'test ' for premier The poll was triggered when Katter's Australian Party MP Nick Dametto resigned from state parliament nearly three weeks ago, to run for the job of Townsville mayor. Mr Dametto was re-elected to parliament with a 13 per cent margin on a two-party preferred basis in last year's state election, with the LNP coming in second and Labor placing third. Politics lecturer Dr Liam Moore, from James Cook University, said the upcoming election would be seen as a test for the premier. "They [the LNP] need to show progress, they need to show some wins and get some runs on the board," he said. The by-election will be held just a fortnight after the Townsville mayoral by-election, meaning many voters in the south of the electorate will be heading to the polls twice in as many weeks. But avoiding the peak of the wet season would also have been a key concern. "I know a lot of the Hinchinbrook residents and even the electoral commission [would] be concerned about prepping for disasters," Dr Moore said. "There would be similar issues if [elections were] held in late December as well, which is why the commission tends not to hold it around these major holidays." 'Once in a generation' by-election The LNP is putting up former Regional Development Australia Townsville chief executive Wayde Chiesa for the state seat. The premier described the election a "once in a generation opportunity … [to elect someone] who will work with me around the table of the LNP government". Katter's Australian Party announced former Townsville deputy mayor Mark Malachino as its candidate for Hinchinbrook. The LNP has been pushing hard to highlight Mr Malachino's past links to the Labor Party, distributing documents showing he was a member of the ALP from 2017 to 2024. But Mr Malachino stressed he had cut ties with Labor. Opposition plays up Crisafulli links The opposition has also positioned the Hinchinbrook by-election as a test for the year-old government. Labor announced on Monday former Townsville councillor, Maurie Soars, as its candidate. Opposition Leader Steven Miles said the by-election would be a chance for voters to show what they thought of the LNP. "The voters of Hinchinbrook deserve better than another David Crisafulli yes man," he said.
